More Basic

That is something that most of us neglect most of the time.
When people asked me to check their kata, I like to go into small details, trying to make it as nice as possible. Only after making sure the form is correct, the stance is alright, only then start to build up speed and power.
Seems like not many people like this idea.
It is true, it is tiring to do so. A lot of time, it is almost impossible to complete a Kata. That was how I used to train.
Sitting down and paying attention to myself, true... I haven't check myself so meticulously for a long time already. My kata is getting out of form. Even when doing basic, I am starting to lose my balance.
What are the elements that I am missing? I wonder.
One thing that I notice about myself today is that, I no longer can breeze walk for long distance, for long time. Perhaps, I shall start to train with that first.

Toady's 一言：Walk faster!

Speed

Was it because of too many anime watching? Today, I pushed myself for speed.
Todays training is more tough than usual. Especially the part where we are required to punch consecutively 20punches with the same hand, or both hands. Instead of just punching fast, i tried to draw back fast and launch the subsequent punch fast as well.

My muscled got fatigue sooner than I thought.
気合！I shout and shout and shout.
For the first time, i felt shouting is not draining my energy, but to bring out more energy from don't know where. And the training goes on.

Suddenly i notice that i have a bad habit while training. My last punch, i tend to look down. I wonder since when and why did i developed this habit. Hmm... need to focus more...

Today's 一言: Good workout!

Anticipation

During practice, we know exactly which punch will come first, then second.
Today's training, we are asked to add in the third punch, with either the front hand or the reverse hand.
Because we know exactly which hand comes first and second, i have no problem in blocking them. The third punch, where the opponent are given freedom of choice, i found myself, most of the time not able to block it.

If we know exactly which comes first and second, anticipation puts me in an advantage. However, if i only anticipate an attack, even only either left or right hand, it gave me a lot of problem.
I wonder how do I normally do in Kumite.
Only when I reflect rather than anticipate, I will be able to get the blocking correct.

I need to calm down more.

Today's 一言: Clear the mind

Wrist

A lot of training on the wrist today.
It just made myself realize that my wrist is not strong enough.

When punching, chopping or whatsoever technique, wrist plays an important role. It fixes the punch, the knife hand in position so that the force can be transmitted well.
Without a strong enough wrist, all the attack will just 'back-fire' and we will hurt ourselves.

Today's 一言: Becareful while training the wrist...

Calm

Performing in front of other people.
And i fought very not like me.

Normally I defend most of the time. But i thought, if i do that here, people will feel bored. Perhaps I shall go for an attack.
It turn out to be clashes, and more clashes.

Fighting in a way that I don't normally use, made me run out of breath very soon.
And thus, performance decline even further.
But the heart beat increases.

What shall i do next? Is my performance ok? I think it is a mess...
The brain got more confused and can't concentrate. All the technique went wrong.

The wanting to perform better, made it a messy performance in the end.
Main reason? I was not calm.

Without a clear mind, the sight is blurred by the storm in the oneself.

Today's 一言: Breath in... breath out...

Rhythm of 3

This is a habit that most of us have.
In kumite when we start bouncing, we somehow will get caught into this timing.
Bounce bounce bounce ATTACK!
or
Bounce bounce bounce no attack, bounce bounce bounce ATTACK!

It is a 4bit cycle.

Even not attacking, when a person is defending, it will be like
Bounce bounce bounce RETREAT!

Need to some how break this cycle so that our movement will be less predictable and with more element of surprise.

Today's 一言: Be Unique

Punching harder...

I was wondering why in the past, I am able to feel myself becoming stronger and stronger after each and every training, while now, I don't. I just felt that I am always at the same level, sometimes slightly improve, and sometimes, slightly degrades.

Was drilling with the basic yesterday. Three Ageuke consecutively, three yokouke consecutively, three araiuke consecutively...
Not sure why, but suddenly i feel like injecting in more force while executing each block.

I guess this is the difference of the me in the past, and the me now.
The effort that was poured in in every training was much more comparing to now, where i just simply do the technique.

Perhaps it is true that i will be able to move around smoothly after a lot of repetition. But i won't build up speed nor strength.

Today's 一言: Need more food...

Wadoryu

Watanebe Sensei taught us a bit about the way they fight today.

So far, I know that we generate energy by twisting, rotating, pushing from the leg...
But today, i see him generating energy using 'gravity'.
Everytime he throws his punch, he uses his body weight to accelerate as well as to generate the power.

But i don't think i will want to pick up this style. It is too far different from mine, and I really don't feel like using it. I prefer my style at this moment.

Today's 一言: Muscle still aching!

Bouncing

Flew back to Singapore today, and started going to Karate lesson today.

The only thing that i have been doing for this one month of holiday is Push Ups and Sit Ups, didn't train my stamina.
Today, we did a lot of bouncing and i ran out of breath. As I move around with my heels lift off the ground only the tip of the foot contacting the ground, making all the springy movement.

That was tiring.
Especially when you need to bounce forward and backward and backward and forward.

The idea is simple, just bounce around and balance yourself, move and shift yourself as fast as possible. But the practical is difficult. However, difficult doesn't implies impossible. Just that we need constant training and practicing to get the movement right.

Today's 一言: Sushi after training taste nice, especially when it is free~